Section 840.80  Participant Eligibility and Confidentiality

a)         Eligible participants for the Program include Illinois residents who are at least 18 years of age and:

1)         Reside in an area that is:

A)        both an R3 Area as established pursuant to Section 10-40 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act [410 ILCS 705] and an environmental justice community; or

B)        either an R3 Area as established pursuant to Section 10-40 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act [410 ILCS 705] or an environmental justice community; or

2)         Qualify as eligible to participate as follows:

A)        meets the definition of a displaced energy worker; or

B)        is a person who faces barriers to employment, including, but not limited to, low educational attainment, prior involvement with the criminal legal system, language barriers, or is a person who is a graduate or current member of the foster care system.

b)         Participant placement will be prioritized in each Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hub region where the applicant pool allows for the following:

1)         Dedicate at least one-third of program placements to applicants who reside in an area that is both:

A)        an R3 Area as established pursuant to Section 10-40 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act [410 ILCS 705]; and

B)        an environmental justice community.

For participant applicants that satisfy the criteria in subsection (b)(1), preference will be given to applicants who face barriers to employment, such as low educational attainment, prior involvement with the criminal legal system, language barriers, and applicants that are graduates of or current members of the foster care system; and

2)         Dedicate at least two-thirds of program placements to applicants who either:

A)        reside in an area that is both an R3 Area as established pursuant to Section 10-40 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act [410 ILCS 705] and an environmental justice community; or

B)        reside in either an R3 Area as established pursuant to Section 10-40 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act [410 ILCS 705] or an environmental justice community.

For participant applicants that satisfy the criteria in subsection (b)(2), preference will be given to applicants who face barriers to employment, such as low educational attainment, prior involvement with the criminal legal system, language barriers, and applicants that are graduates of or current members of the foster care system; and

3)         Prioritize the remaining Program placements for applicants who are:

A)        displaced energy workers; or

B)        persons who face barriers to employment, including, but not limited to, low educational attainment, prior involvement with the criminal legal system, language barriers, and applicants that are graduates of or current members of the foster care system.

c)         The Department will protect the confidentiality of personal information provided by Program participant applicants regarding an applicant's status as a formerly incarcerated person or foster care recipient; however, the Department may publish aggregated data on the number of participants that were formerly incarcerated or foster care recipients as long as that publication protects the individuals' identities. Program applicants may elect not to share with the Department whether the applicant is a graduate or currently enrolled in the foster care system or was formerly incarcerated.